Computational models: a modest role for content

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 41 (3):253-259 (2010)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

The computational theory of mind construes the mind as an information-processor and cognitive capacities as essentially representational capacities. Proponents of the view claim a central role for representational content in computational models of these capacities. In this paper I argue that the standard view of the role of representational content in computational models is mistaken; I argue that representational content is to be understood as a gloss on the computational characterization of a cognitive process.Keywords: Computation; Representational content; Cognitive capacities; Explanation

Categories

Keywords

Reprint years

DOI

10.1016/j.shpsa.2010.07.009

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 91,386

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

My notes

Similar books and articles

A clearer vision.Lawrence A. Shapiro - 1997 - Philosophy of Science 64 (1):131-53.
Computational Models of Emergent Properties.John Symons - 2008 - Minds and Machines 18 (4):475-491.
Computational cognitive modeling the source of power and other related issues.Ron Sun - unknown
Content, computation, and individuation.Keith Butler - 1998 - Synthese 114 (2):277-92.
Dispositional versus epistemic causality.Paul Bohan Broderick, Johannes Lenhard & Arnold Silverberg - 2006 - Minds and Machines 16 (3).
Explanation and description in computational neuroscience.David Michael Kaplan - 2011 - Synthese 183 (3):339-373.
Computational Models in the Philosophy of Science.Paul Thagard - 1986 - PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association 1986:329 - 335.
Observations on the Responsible Development and Use of Computational Models and Simulations.David J. Kijowski, Harry Dankowicz & Michael C. Loui - 2013 - Science and Engineering Ethics 19 (1):63-81.
Naturalising Representational Content.Nicholas Shea - 2013 - Philosophy Compass 8 (5):496-509.
Chomsky and Egan on computational theories of vision.Arnold Silverberg - 2006 - Minds and Machines 16 (4):495-524.
Confirmation and the computational paradigm, or, why do you think they call it artificial intelligence?David J. Buller - 1993 - Minds and Machines 3 (2):155-81.
Theoretical status of computational cognitive modeling.Ron Sun - unknown
The Computational Content of Classical Arithmetic to Appear in a Festschrift for Grigori Mints.Jeremy Avigad - unknown
Computational Modeling in Cognitive Science: A Manifesto for Change.Caspar Addyman & Robert M. French - 2012 - Topics in Cognitive Science 4 (3):332-341.

Analytics

Added to PP
2010-09-14

Downloads
161 (#115,541)

6 months
20 (#125,481)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Citations of this work

How to think about mental content.Frances Egan - 2014 - Philosophical Studies 170 (1):115-135.
Data models, representation and adequacy-for-purpose.Alisa Bokulich & Wendy Parker - 2021 - European Journal for Philosophy of Science 11 (1):1-26.

View all 40 citations / Add more citations

References found in this work

The Language of Thought.Jerry A. Fodor - 1975 - Harvard University Press.
Vision.David Marr - 1982 - W. H. Freeman.

View all 49 references / Add more references